Motherwell are set to host Edinburgh City at Fir Park in their first group stage game of Scotland's League Cup on Saturday.
The home side were eighth in Scotland's top flight in the regular season with 37 points from 33 games, while the visitors were relegated from Scotland's League One after finishing in last place in 10th with eight points from 36 games.
Match preview
Over the course of the entire 36-game season, Motherwell ended the campaign with 43 points and finished in ninth place as the fourth-worst team in the top flight.
The hosts will be disappointed that they averaged just 1.13 points per game last season, a figure that is less than the 1.32 they managed in the 2022-23 season in which they totalled 50 points.
In fairness to manager Stuart Kettlewell, his side have avoided relegation twice since his appointment in February 2023, though they will be hoping for more in the coming campaign.
Across the entire league campaign in 2023-24, Motherwell scored 56 times and conceded on 59 occasions, the division's third-best offensive and eighth-best defensive records respectively.
Kettlewell's side ended the league season with two straight defeats, but these results were preceded by a 5-1 win against Ross County and a 4-1 success against Livingston.
Meanwhile, the visitors come into the game having lost their last three League One games.
In fact, Edinburgh lost 19 of their last 22 League One fixtures, drawing twice and winning just once in that period.
However, little blame should be placed on manager Michael McIndoe considering the fact that 20 senior players departed the club in December.
These players were allowed to leave Edinburgh after the team's directors announced the club had run out of money, a financial situation so dire that the side were also deducted six points during the season.
Chairman John Dickson publicly apologised to McIndoe, who took over in October 2023, and commented on the manager's good character.
McIndoe's side scored 38 goals and conceded 98 over the course of the 2023-24 season, records which made them the division's worst offensive and defensive team.
Team News
The hosts will be without new signing Johnny Koutroumbis for at least another couple of months due to a calf injury, while Paul McGinn and Ross Callachan are making good progress in their respective recoveries but will still likely sit out of the game.
Motherwell have also made several other signings, including goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi and defenders Liam Gordon and Kofi Balmer.
In midfield, Andy Halliday and Tom Sparrow have also signed, while Filip Stuparevic and Zach Robinson have reinforced the forward line.
As for departures, goalkeeper Liam Kelly has left, as have defenders Ricki Lamie, Callan Elliot and Bevis Mugabi.
The exits of Blair Spittal, Barry Maguire, Ross Tierney and Calum Butcher have left gaps in midfield, while forward Jonathan Obika has also departed the club.
As for the visitors, they come into Saturday's game with 15 free signings, 10 of whom are under the age of 24.
This 15-man list includes goalkeepers Mark Weir and Dean Beveridge, as well as defenders Lewis McArthur, Sam Gormley and Edin Lynch.
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Kelly; Gordon, Casey, Blaney; Wilson, Halliday, Miller, O'Donnell; Ferrie, Robinson, Nichoson
Edinburgh City possible starting lineup:
Weir; Ewen, Gormley, McArthur, Mitchell; Jones, Rennie, Jarvis; Lawson, Young, Stokes
We say: Motherwell 4-0 Edinburgh City
Although Edinburgh manager McIndoe did as well as could have been expected last season, it would be a surprise to see his side earn a win against Motherwell.
Additionally, the home side should be strong favourites in Saturday's clash given their status as a top-flight team, in contrast to the visitors, who will begin the 2024-25 season in Scotland's League Two.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
